Frank Leslie Cross
Encyclopedia
Frank Leslie Cross Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity in the University of Oxford
, was a British
, Anglican patristics
scholar and founder of the Oxford Patristics Conference, and editor of The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (First Edition, 1957).
, the family moved to Bournemouth
whilst he was a child, where he won the Domus scholarship for Natural Science
at Balliol College Oxford, taking Honours in Chemistry
and Crystallography
and then, in 1922, following tuition at Keble College, First Class Honours in Theology
. He studied in Marburg
and Freiburg
, taking a Doctor of Philosophy
in Oxford in 1922 with a dissertation on Husserl. He became an ordinand of Ripon Hall in 1923 and was ordained in 1925 as Tutor
and Chaplain
of that college. In 1927 he became one of the priest-librarians of Pusey House, of which he became Custodian in 1934. He was appointed Lady Margaret Professor and Canon
of Christ Church
in 1944, by which time his interest in patristics was developing, alongside the beginnings of the Dictionary, which was published in 1957. At the time of his death he was working on the Second Edition.
Post-war he organised international conferences- initially to re-establish relations with Christians in Germany
. He organised the First International Conference on Patristic Studies in 1951, the second in 1955; he also organized New Testament
congresses. As well as their academic importance, the conferences were an early expression of ecumenism
.
Cross was awarded an Oxford Doctor of Divinity
in 1950; he received honorary degree
s from Aberdeen University and Bonn University and was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1967.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Anglican patristics
Patristics
Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the Latin pater . The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian...
scholar and founder of the Oxford Patristics Conference, and editor of The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (First Edition, 1957).
Life
Born in HonitonHoniton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
, the family moved to Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
whilst he was a child, where he won the Domus scholarship for Natural Science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
at Balliol College Oxford, taking Honours in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and Crystallography
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
and then, in 1922, following tuition at Keble College, First Class Honours in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. He studied in Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
and Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, taking a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Oxford in 1922 with a dissertation on Husserl. He became an ordinand of Ripon Hall in 1923 and was ordained in 1925 as Tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
and Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
of that college. In 1927 he became one of the priest-librarians of Pusey House, of which he became Custodian in 1934. He was appointed Lady Margaret Professor and Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Christ Church
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
in 1944, by which time his interest in patristics was developing, alongside the beginnings of the Dictionary, which was published in 1957. At the time of his death he was working on the Second Edition.
Post-war he organised international conferences- initially to re-establish relations with Christians in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He organised the First International Conference on Patristic Studies in 1951, the second in 1955; he also organized New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
congresses. As well as their academic importance, the conferences were an early expression of ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
.
Cross was awarded an Oxford Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1950; he received honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s from Aberdeen University and Bonn University and was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1967.
Source
- Cross, F.L. and Livingstone, E.A. (eds), "Frank Leslie Cross" in The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, pp.xxxiv-xxxvii. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1997. ISBN 0-19-211655-X